Reclaiming Safe Space, Restoring Democracy, and Equity For ASEAN

[Jakarta, 3 September 2023] On 1-3 September 2023, more than 1000 in-person and online participants gathered from the ASEAN countries, Asian region and international entities in Atma Jaya University, Jakarta, Indonesia, for the 2023 ACSC/APF, with the theme of ‘Reclaiming safe space, restoring democracy, and equity in ASEAN!’.

One of the issues, impunity, was sought as the leading issue relating to other human rights issues in ASEAN where it stresses political violence which is hoped to not be repeated in the future. Such impunity underscored by the lack of respect for human rights in ASEAN can be eradicated when the region’s, as mentioned during the plenary session, that “People should be the one who move the minds of their Leaders”.

“ASEAN must ensure that the interests of people are reflected in every decision-making process, as the interests of peoples, especially vulnerable and marginalized groups such as women, girls, gender minorities, people with disabilities, and rural women, are often not prioritized in ASEAN policy-making”, said Rena, Indonesia NOC Committee from Yayasan Kalyanamitra.

Over the three intensive days, the participants raised their collective voices through a total of three plenary sessions, 29 workshops through six convergence spaces: Peace and Human Security, Alternative Regionalism, Human Rights and Safe Space for Marginalized Groups, Climate and Environmental Justice, Socio-economic Justice, as well as Democracy and Anti-authoritarianism and 30 side events.

“With these massive numbers of workshops and side events, we, civil society, want to reclaim our space in the center of this regionalism agenda. By addressing some issues in ACSC/APF 2023, we, civil society want to democratize ASEAN, to be more inclusive and work actively in respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights”, explained Daniel Awigra, Indonesia NOC Committee, Executive Director of HRWG Indonesia.

All of the activities have been agreed as common campaigns that ACSC/APF will implement after the conference. And here are recommendations for every convergence spaces:

Convergence Space Peace and Human Security: ASEAN and all member states should promote the settlement of all disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law and refrain from the use of force or threat of using force in international relations. The member states should prevent all human rights violations, atrocities, crimes, child abductions and enforced disappearances. Other than that, ASEAN Member States should deal with non-traditional threats to human security and livelihood in a sustainable manner.

Convergence Space Alternative Regionalism: ASEAN and all member states must provide the legal and policy frameworks on the social and solidarity economy for workers in the formal and informal sector to end the political, cultural and economic discrimination. ASEAN member states have to respect, promote and protect marginalized youth groups using intersectionality approach to establish gender equality education and encourage feminist movement, safe space for marginalized communities, indigenous, and specially to CSOs and youths to raise awareness and consciousness, promote self-care overrides masculinity culture.

Convergence Space Human Rights and Safe Space for Marginalized Groups: ASEAN should establish a regional task force for digital rights and cybersecurity and strengthen indigenous peoples’ rights protection mechanisms as well as promote comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education.

Convergence Space Climate and Environment Justice: ASEAN Member States should formulate Unified Climate Policies that develop and implement shared targets for emissions reductions, renewable energy adoption, and climate adaptation policies and strategies at the regional level while also urging the implementation of climate related policies and upholding law enforcement to any practice which is detrimental to the environment.

ASEAN climate and environmental convergence body should make sure advancing people’s alternatives including the need for a multi-faceted approach with rural women as their frontiers; CSO should be allowed to amplify voices of the most invisible and create spaces for collective work and diverse participation, share practice and celebrate heritage. Adding to that, ASEAN Member States must eradicate corruption as a collective action in the Blue Economy.

Convergence Space Socio-Economic Justice: ASEAN Member States should accurately monitor the numbers, wages, working conditions and social protection of vulnerable workers. Employment law and policies should be implemented to promote formalization of working across ASEAN that promote equality for gender and sexual minorities, which eliminates all forms of discrimination based on gender and gender identity. And not to forget social protection that relies on socio-economic policies covering inclusive business and social protection must be reviewed through a multi-stakeholder approach.

Convergence Space Democracy and Anti-Authoritarianism: AICHR must ensure the commitment to address human rights abuses, including the severe past human rights violation. Improve the right to freedom of expression, to assembly, and to associate, reclaim civic space, and protection of human rights defenders. And ensure intersectional approach mainstreamed in cross-cutting human rights issues such as through but not limited to GEDSI perspective, WPS agenda, SOGIESC, and SRHR.

So, now is the time to act and collaborate between ASEAN communities starting from recognizing the ACSC/APF as an official platform in the ASEAN summit. Let us stand united against oppression, injustice, and violence! By ensuring that the interests of all people are considered, ASEAN can help to create a more just and equitable region.

On behalf of Regional Organizing Committee ACSC/APF 2023